ACEEE Releases 2017 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard

October 6, 2017

The 11th Annual 2017 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the American Council for and Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) was just released, highlighting which states are doing the best on energy efficiency. The 2017 Scorecard assesses state policies and programs that improve energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industries, and transportation systems. It examines the six policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and public benefits programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes and compliance; Combined Heat and Power policies; state government-led energy efficiency initiatives; and appliance and equipment standards.

Massachusetts broke its 2016 tie with California by holding on to the No. 1 ranking, while the Golden State slipped to No. 2. Rhode Island, Vermont, and Oregon round out the top five. Idaho posted the most gains by far in 2017, surging past several mid-ranked states in ACEEE’s comparative index of efficiency policies, best practices, and other metrics. Idaho advanced seven spots, from 33rd to 26th place. The balance of the 10 most-improved states are Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and Kentucky. While they show promise, all states have room for improvement.

According to Steven Nadel, executive director, ACEEE, “By pursuing energy efficiency policies, states can save residents and businesses billions in the long term. There is a lot of overall movement in the 2017 Scorecard. Some states that have gone for years without much change have made incredible strides.”